Use of the Technical Specifications

The GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA TOPOGRAPHIC DATA AND MAP SPECIFICATIONS are made up of 3 main sections.

Section 1 clarifies the aspects of the feature based models used for TOPO250K and TOPO100K National Topographic Databases (NTDBs) as well as the model used in the 1:25 000 data capture program. It provides information on a variety of topics relating to the model design and population principals including:

defining datum, spatial extents and projection information, as well as

the rules used in the collection and attribution of the data.

These feature based models are used for the capture, revision and maintenance of topographic data and are used as a basis in the production of series and custom mapping. The key characteristics required of these feature based models are national consistency and assured quality.

Section 2 specifies the National Topographic Map Series (NTMS) products. NTMS maps are hard copy topographic maps produced primarily to support environmental and resource planning and for navigation. This section focuses on ensuring that the 1:250 000 and 1:100 000 NTMS products are nationally consistence and have an assured quality.

Section 3 provides information on a variety of topics related to revision processes and materials, model structure, general concepts in relation to data capture and attribution as well as more specific notes on individual feature capture and attribution in relation to its surrounding environment. This section includes information on data and map submission requirements to Geoscience Australia from their external producers.

A number of Appendices support the three sections.

Sections 2 is designed to allow use outside this combined specification. However, for data and map production purposes (capture, revision and maintenance) all sections of the specification should be read together, as specifications for one product impact on the others. Similarly the specification covers 1:25 000, 1:100 000 and 1:250 000 scale products. Elements specific to one scale or the other are identified within the specifications.

Appendix A - the Feature Type Dictionary is the primary reference containing detailed information on the definition, conditions of use and other reference information for valid feature types.

These specifications and the associated table below represents the Production geodatabase schema. This schema differs in structure and precision to the Distribution geodatabase schema supplied by Geoscience Australia to the public via on-line downloads and packaged products. A distribution schema to production schema cross reference, as well as a production schema to distribution schema cross reference is provided to assist in translation by users. This cross reference details both the TOPO250K GEODATA product and the future TOPO100K Geodata Lite product distribution schemas against the production schema.

Users should always refer to the Feature Type Cross Reference Tables in Appendix R as a first step, to ensure the entity they are dealing with is listed as a feature type, many feature types are known by various names by different individuals, organisations and States. The column titled 'Commonly used term' of the Feature Type Cross Reference Tables lists the known names for features while the 'Feature Type' column guides the user to the name used for the feature
type in the specifications.

Below is a complete list on the Sections and Appendices held within this specification. Each Section and Appendix provides a link to all areas on the left hand side of the page, to gain a heading description for each Section and Appendix merely rest your mouse on the link.